New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-17
IND RE(L4IMING.

Mr. Lamar claims great credit Tor deCi-
sion against the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad,
by which it is declared many
million acres of land are restored
to settlement and cultivation. This
happens TO be one Of those dCcisl,ns
against which nobody is called upon TO pro-
test unless it be the company affected. The
question is one Of legal right. Mr. Lamar has
no more power finally 10 decide the qucst
than hi, impudcnt subordinate, Sparks, who-o
decisions he continually ovcnulc, The
courts will finally determine whether the At
lantc and Pacific has legal right to the
lands in question, unless the company chooses
TO abide by the decision Of the secretary. If
there is such right, the Sccrctarys decision
will prove a nudity, mere bid Tor votes oil
railroad hatcrs. But if there is not such "A
right the Secretary has properly claimed for
the Government what it ought to hold in trust
for the people. The public does not wish the
railroad to be dcfrauded if it has lawful claims
and 1t docs not wish the heritage of the pco-
pic TO be unlawf fully diminished by "A single
acre.
There is a vast deal Of cheap dcmagog-
ism current about the question of railroad
lands, much OF which Is cmincntly Disc cdita-
bic Tho Government and the people wanted
certain great highways built through unset
tied regions, as a means OF binding the coun
try together and preventing scpa alton, as a
means of defence against Indians or other foes.
as measure OF economy in the supply and
maintenance of distant stations and glrris0ns.
and especially for the development OF vast
mineral and other resources which were be-
You'd tho reach OF industry without sucn roads.
The Government and people consented to
give certain lands as an inducemcnt 10 capital
to undertake these works Inc grants were
liberal and were intended to be, and yet IL Is
matter Of history that in those days they
were not sufficient TO insure the building Of
tic roads desired without other fayUrs and
concessions. Unemployed capital was not
tncn 50 abundant III the country Us 1t is now
What Government agreed to give, for the
worthy National Objects mentioned, every
good citizen VIII wish TO have given in good
faith and to the full Tho mcanncss of de-
lrauding a company of any part Of the prol,
crty lawfully given as an inducemcnt TO cap
ita is one with which the people have 10
sympathy But some companies have un-
doubtcdly taken unlawful advantage of the
government 10 OBTAIN more Than they were
emitted TO, and for them there is no public
sympathy. The question Is one of law; what
10 the grants actually cover, and how far
have they been complied with legally. The
people are content to have that question set
tied, as it must be sooner or later, by the
courts
The pretence that vast tracts Of desirable
land are reclaimed for the Government and
the people by proceedings against the COM
panies is largely fraudulent Out of all the
land which the companies have held or with
drawn from settlement during all these years.
the greater part that was of any value has
been sold as rapidly as possible, In order to
insure settlement and make the roads pay. |
Lands that have not been fond salable.
and arc left on hand, are presumably not o.